Dane County, WI Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Effective date
- February 1, 1991
- Materials covered
- metal cans, cardboard, glass, plastics, tires, batteries
- Multifamily rule
- separate containers + tenant notice at move-in, semi-annual
- Forfeiture
- $200-$500/violation (up to $2,000 repeat)
- Governing law
- Dane County Code ch. 41, §§ 41.23, 41.235
Summary
Dane County bars any municipality from using its county-owned landfills unless the municipality first adopts an approved recycling program covering metal cans, cardboard, glass, plastics, tires, and batteries. Landfill users who skip separation, including multifamily and commercial properties, face the same ban under Chapter 41's mandatory recycling ordinance.
41.23 SEPARATION OF WASTE CONTINUED; RECYCLING. (1) On and after February 1, 1991, each municipality which desires to afford its residents, businesses, commercial, retail and industrial enterprises and governmental entities located within the municipality the opportunity to deposit in any Dane County-owned landfill any solid waste which originates in or is generated, accumulated or collected in the municipality shall first adopt and provide an effective recycling program, approved by the county board. (2) On and after February 1, 1991, no landfill user shall deposit or cause to be deposited any ferrous metal cans, aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, glass bottles and jars, HDPE plastic, PET plastic, large appliances, used oil, grass, leaves, brush, tires or lead acid batteries at any Dane County-owned landfill unless such user is a municipality which has in place an effective recycling program or is a private waste hauler that certifies to the county that each of its customers that is a multi-family dwelling or a commercial, retail, industrial or governmental facility or municipality has an effective recycling program.
Full Breakdown
' Subsection (2) then bars any landfill user from depositing ferrous metal cans, aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, glass bottles and jars, HDPE and PET plastic, large appliances, used oil, grass, leaves, brush, tires, or lead-acid batteries unless the user's municipality has an approved program, or a private hauler certifies each customer does. 235 spells out what counts as 'effective': a municipal ordinance requiring landfill users to separate those materials, a rule for multifamily owners to provide separate containers and notify tenants at move-in and semi-annually, an equivalent duty for commercial/industrial/governmental facility owners, and a collection system promoting separation.
The county's committee reviews and can suspend, limit, or revoke a municipality's program if it isn't enforced in good faith. 24 adds a retailer duty: since January 1, 1990, any store selling tires or lead-acid batteries must tell buyers at checkout those items can't go to a county landfill, and must offer to take back the old unit for recycling.
Violations & Fines
Section 41.83(1) makes it 'unlawful and a violation of this ordinance' for a landfill user to deposit waste originating in a municipality without an effective recycling program, and § 41.83(6)-(7) extends the ban to landfill owners/operators and haulers. Section 41.90(5) sets forfeitures of $200 to $500 per violation, rising to $500-$2,000 for a third or later violation within twelve months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dane County run curbside recycling directly?
What materials must Dane County-area recycling programs cover?
Are landlords required to provide recycling bins in Dane County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dane County
Compare Dane County to another location·View the Wisconsin trash & recycling overview
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